Means for making permanent waves



March 30, 1937. G Q E 2,075,631

MEANS FOR MAKING PERMANENT WAVES Filed Nov. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.8.

v 6 V i by INVENTOR 14161. GEOEG STEOl/EE ATTORNEYS K G, STRCHER 2,075,631

March 30, 1937.

MEANS FOR MAKING PERMANENT WAVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1953 INVENTOR K081. 65026 5T2 (Sh E2,

ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 15, 1933, Serial No.'698,041

In Germany January 19, 1933 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and means for making permanent waves in human hair and refers more particularly to external and internal heating elements used for heating a strand of hair wound upon a curler and held by means of a clamp.

Clamps used in prior art consisted of a pair of clamping jaws which served at the same time as heating elements. Such clamps are extremely heavy and had to be used together with a separate holder, since otherwise they could not be maintained in the required position. Furthermore, when such clamps were employed in combination with a curler constructed as an inf ternal heating element, it was usually necessary to provide four separate conducting wires for supplying electrical current to the two resistances serving as the internal and external heating elements.

In View of the fact that some varieties of human hair should not be subjected to the amount of heat usually developed by the internal and external heating elements, the operator was obliged to keep on hand a large and expensive stock of different clamps.

An object of the present invention is the provision of simple and effective means for heating a strand of hair simultaneously from the inside and outside, as well as the provision of means for interrupting at will either the supply of heat from the outside or from the inside.

Another object is the provision of a clamp carrying an external heating element and adapted to cooperate with a curler provided with an internal heating element in such a way that the internal and external heating elements may be easily and conveniently connected in parallel with each other and supplied with an electrical current from a pair of wires.

A further object is the provision of a clamp shaped in such a way, that it may be used either as a mere holder for a strand of hair wound upon a curler, or in addition to that. as a support for a heating element of standard construction.

Yet another object is to increase the durability of permanent waves by a suitable combi nation of the supply of heat from the outside and inside to a wound strand of hair.

The above and other objects of this invention may be realized through the provision of a clamp adapted to hold a strand of hair wound upon a curler which serves as an internal heating element, the jaws of said clamp being shaped in the form of a socket carrying an external heating element of standard construction. In accordance with another modification or this invention both ends of the external heating element are provided with plugs which can be connected with the ends of the electrical resistance situated within the curler in order that the external and internal heating elements may be interconnected in parallel.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows in end elevation a clamp provided with a socket for an external heating element.

Figure 2 illustrates on a smaller scale and in side elevation the same clamp carrying an external heating element.

Figure 3 shows the external heating element or the curler.

Figure 4 shows in side elevation a clamping device provided with plugs and placed over a curler carrying a wound strand of hair.

Figure 5 shows the same device with its plugs placed over the ends of the curler.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device shown in Figure 5, on a larger scale.

Figure 7 is a section along the line Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section along Figure 7, on a larger scale.

The clamp shown in Figures 1 and 2 01' the drawings comprise two handles 9 and i0 and two cooperating jaws II and I2. The jaw ll comprises an upper end portion l3 which is braised or attached in any other suitable manner to the handle 9; the jaw ll comprises also an upper grooved portion M, a lower bent portion l5, and an intermediate projecting portion or rib IS. The other cooperating jaw I2 is similar to the jaw H and comprises a portion I! attached to the handle 10 in any suitable manner, two grooved or bent portions l8 and I9 and an intermediate projecting portion or rib 20. The handles 9 and ID are rigidly connected with ears 2i and 22, respectively. A hinge or pin 23 passes through openings formed in the ears 2! and 22 and is surrounded by a spring 24, having ends which press against the handles 9 and ID, maintaining the clamp in the closed position. The grooved or rounded portion I9 of the jaw I2 terminates in flat abutments 25 and 26 situated on opposite sides of the jaw 12. The jaw II is the line a a of provided with a similar pair of abutments 21. The purpose of these abutments is to maintain the clamp in its proper position around a curler carrying a wound strand of hair and upon another clamp, not shown in the drawings, which holds the strand of hair close to the scalp.

The grooved portions l4 and i8 of the jaws II and 12 are preferably provided with a socket 28, which, in the example illustrated, is attached by a rivet 29 to the grooved portion [8 of the jaw 12.

The resilient socket 28 is adapted to hold a member 29 which is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This member is a heating element of standard construction, so that in other instances it may be used as a curler; it comprises an electrical resistance 30 surrounded by an insulating tube not shown in the drawings. The insulation is covered by an external tube 3|. At both ends of the heater there are provided insulating ferrules or rings 32 and 33, so that the heater or the curler may be conveniently handled. If it is desired to use the heater 29 as an external heating element, it is inserted within the socket 28 fitting into the grooves l4 and i8 of the jaws H and I2.

In operation the clamp is placed over a member 29 carrying a wound strand of hair. If it is desired to heat the wound strand of hair both from the inside and the outside, another member 29 is placed in the socket 28 and both members are connected by suitable plugs with a source of electrical energy. If the strand of hair is to be heated only from the outside, only that member 29, which is carried by the socket 28, is connected to the source of electrical energy. The clamp is very light and besides carrying a member 29 serving as an external heating element, it performs also its usual function of holding a strand of hair wound upon a curler.

The modification shown in Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings comprises a clamp which has the same shape as the clamp shown in Figures 1 and 2 and which comprises a handle 35 and a pair of jaws 36. Each jaw consists of two grooved portions 31 and 38, a rib 39 projecting towards the interior of the clamp and a pair of abutments .9 and 4i situated at opposite ends of the aw.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the clamp is placed over a curler 42 which carries a strand of hair 43 wound in any suitable manner upon the curler. In accordance with the usual practice, the strand of hair 43 is covered by an absorbent strip 44. The curler 42 is provided with two insulating ferrules 45 and 46 to enable the operator to conveniently handle the same.

As shown more clearly in Figure 6 of the drawings, an electrical wire or coil 41 is situated within the curler 42 and is wound upon an insulating rod 48. An insulating tube 49'surrounds the coil 4! and the rod 46. The coil 41 is connected with a terminal post 50. An insulating end piece 5| carries the post 59 and is provided with screw threads 53. An insulating ferrule 46 is screwed onto the end piece 5i. A hollow preferably metallic casing is placed over the tube 49 and is held between the end piece 5| and the ferrule 54.

The external heating element 56 is similar to the curler 42, and is provided with a coil or wire 51 wound around a rod 58 and connected to a terminal post 59. An insulating tube 69 surrounds the coil 57 and is surrounded by a casing 6i held between an insulating ferrule 52 and an internal end piece 63. Screw threads 64 are used for interconnecting the end piece 63 and the insulating ferrule 62.

The means for interconnecting in parallel the wires 51 and 41 comprise a ball-shaped member 65 forming a single piece with the terminal post 59. A tube 66 is placed over the ball 65. A clamp 67 shown more clearly in Figure '7 of the drawings, comprises a tubular portion 68 which fits over the tube 66. The ends of the tube 68 extends in abutting relation with respect to each other and are held together by a rivet 69. These two ends form a pair of jaws i0 and H provided with flanges "l2 and'13. The clamp 61 is located within a suitable shaped cavity 14 formed in an insulating casing 15 of the plug 52. Obviously, the ball 65, the tube 66 and the clamp 6'! are made of a conducting material.

As shown more clearly in Figure 8 of the drawings, the ball 65 is connected with the tube 66 by means of a pinlB which passes through a bore formed in the ball 65. It will be seen that due to this arrangement the plug 52 can rotate with respect to the heating element 56 in one plane only, namely, in the plane of Figure 6.

The plug 52 is provided with a projecting terminal post 80, which may be connected with a plug 8|, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The lower portion of the post 80 is provided with screw threads 82 corresponding to internal screw threads formed in a suitable opening of the plug casing 15. The lower end of the post 80 has the shape of a pin 83 passing through corresponding openings formed in the tubular portion 68 of the clamp 61 and in the tube 66 situated within the tubular portion 68. Due to this arrangement, the electrical current flowing from a source of energy not shown in the drawings passes through the plug 8i, which is in contact with the post 80 and then flows through the pin 83 to the clamp 67 and the tube 66.

Since the tube 66 is in contact with the ball 65 of the terminal post 59, the current will flow from the tulwe 56 to the ball 65 and to the post 59, passing through the wire 57 and heating the external heating element 56 (Fig 6). In the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. the plug 52 is electrically connected only with the external heater 56 with the result that the strand of hair 43, wound on the curler 42, is heated externally only.

If it is desired to heat the strand of hair 43 externally and internally at the same time, the plugs 52 are placed in the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. In that position, the jaws l0 and H of the clamps 6'! surround the posts 59 of the curler 42 and are in contact with these posts. Therefore, in the position shown in Figure 5, the electrical current flowing from one of the posts 80 to the clamp 61 is divided, one part of the current flowing through the wire 57 of the external heating element 56, while the other part of the current flows through the jaws l0 and H of one of the clamps 61, and from there passes through the post 50 to the wire 41, with the result that both the external heating element 56 and the internal heating element or the curler 42 are heated by the same current. It will be noted that in this position the wires 57 and 41 of the heater 56 and the curler 42 are interconnected in parallel. Due to this arrangement, a uniform heating of the strand of hair 43 is provided for.

If it is desired to heat the strand of hair by the til) from the outside and the inside.

internal heater only, the plugs 52 are moved into the position shown in Figure 4 and then the external heater 56 together with the plugs 52 is rotated until the plugs 52 leave the posts 50 of the curler 42. Then the plugs 8| may be connected directly with the posts 50 with the result that only the wire 41 of the curler 42 will be heated by the electrical current.

The preferred mode of making a permanent wave comprises the steps of forming a strand of hair 43 and winding it upon a curler 42. Then the wound strand of hair is covered in the usual manner by a wrapper 44. Then the clamp shown in Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings is placed over the curler 42 and the plugs 52 are connected with the posts 50 of the curler 42.

The posts 80 of the plugs 52 are connected with the plugs 8| which are supplied with an electrical current. In that position the external heating element 56 and the internal heating element or curler 42 are connected with each other in parallel and are also connected with a source of electrical energy, with the result that a strand of hair 43 wound upon the curler 42 is heated both After the heating has progressed for a sufficient period of time, the plugs 52 are moved to the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, so that the electrical current between the plugs BI and the curler 42 is interrupted, and the hair is heated only by the external heater 56.

When the heating operation is completed, the electrical current is switched oiT and the heaters are allowed to cool before the removal of the clamp.

If the hair is weak and if in the opinion of the operator, it is not advisable to heat the same to the usual extent, the plugs 52 are maintained in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings during the entire heating process, with the result that the hair is heated by the external heater only.

What is claimed is:

1. In the art of making permanent waves in human hair, in combination, an external heating element, a curler and a clamp comprising a pair of clamping jaws, said jaws having upper grooved portions adapted to support said external heating element and lower grooved portions adapted to clamp said curler and means for transmitting an electric current pivoted to said external heating element and adapted to engage said internal heating element whereby said two elements may be interconnected in parallel.

2. In combination with an internal heating element and a clamp adapted to be placed over said internal heating element; an external heating element carried by said clamp and comprising a conducting wire, an insulator surrounding said wire, a post connected with said wire and a clamp carried by said post and adapted to come in contact with said internal heating element.

3. In combination, a pair of heating elements, each one of said heating elements comprising a conducting wire, an insulating tube surrounding said wire, and a pair of posts to which the ends of said wire are connected; conducting clamps carried by the posts of one of said heating elements and adapted to come in contact with the posts of the other of said heating elements, another post adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and connected with said clamp,

and another clamp adapt-ed to support one of said heating elements and to clamp the other 0! said heating elements.

4. In combination, a heating element comprising a wire and a post connected with said wire; another heating element having a wire and a post connected with said wire; a clamp comprising a tubular portion, means for oscillatably connecting the tubular portion of said clamp with the first-mentioned post, a conducting member adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and in contact with said tubular portion, said clamp having jaws adapted to comein contact with the second-mentioned post, and another clamp adapted to support the first-mentioned heating element.

5. In combination, a heating element having a post; a ball-shaped member at the end of said post, a tube surrounding said ball-shaped member, a clamp having a middle portion fitting over said tube, another heating element having a post; said clamp having end portions adapted to come in contact with the second-mentioned post, an insulating casing covering said clamp, another post carried by said casing and in contact with said clamp, and another clamp adapted to carry the first-mentioned heating element.

6. In combination, an external heating element, an internal heating element adapted to carry a strand of hair and a clamp supporting said external heating element and adapted to be placed over said internal heating element, each one of said heating elements comprising a conducting wire, a tubular insulator surrounding said wire and a terminal post, a ball carried by the end of the post of said external heating element,

a tube covering said ball, a clamp, means electrically connecting the last mentioned clamp with the post of said external heating element, an insulator covering said clamp, and a post carried by said insulator and connected with the lastmentioned clamp. v

'7. In combination, a heating element comprising a wire, an insulating tube surrounding said wire and a post connected with said wire, a clamp, means oscillatably connecting said clamp with said post, another clamp having a pair of jaws shaped to support said heating element, and another heating element adapted to carry a wound strand of hair, the last-mentioned heating element comprising a connecting wire, a tubular insulator surrounding said wire and a post connected with said wire and adapted to come in contact with the ends of the first-mentioned clamp.

8. In combination, an external heating element comprising a wire, an insulating tube covering said wire and a post having one end connected with said wire and another end having the shape of a ball; a tube fitting over said ball, a pin passing through said tube and said ball, a clamp having end portions and a tubular middle portion fitting over said tube; a post having one end adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and another end projecting through openings formed in said clamp and said tube, a casing carrying the last-mentioned post and surrounding said clamp, an internal heating element adapted to carry a wound strand of hair and having a post adapted to come in contact with the end portions of said clamp; and another clamp having jaws adapted to surround said internal heating element and carrying said external heating element.

KARL GEORG s'I'RoHER. 

